FC UNITED will take on the world's oldest football club as part of their pre-season schedule.

The reds will cross the Pennines for a war of the roses battle with Sheffield FC who are 150 years old next year and are the only club in the world other than Real Madrid to have been awarded the FIFA Order of Merit.

The Yorkshire club were given the prestigious honour for their historical importance and their chairman attended a glittering ceremony alongside Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano.